AU To Commence Negotiation Between Gaddafi, Libyan TNC

The AU Commission yesterday said it would convene a meeting between Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and leaders of the rebel Transitional National Council (TNC) in Addis Ababa.

A statement issued in Addis Ababa by the Security Department of the Commission said the decision to commence negotiation was part of the outcome of the just concluded Summit of the African Heads of State and Government in Malabo.

The AU High-Level Ad-hoc Committee on Libya, headed by President Muhammed Abdelaziz of Mauritania, had on Friday, presented to the Libyan parties the AU’s proposals for a Framework Agreement on a political solution to the crisis in Libya.

The statement said the proposal had been endorsed by the 17th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government before it was presented to the parties.

“These proposals are made within the context of the AU Roadmap for the Peaceful Resolution of the crisis in Libya and the communiqué of the meeting of the Committee held in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 26, 2011.

“It includes Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s commitment to an inclusive dialogue process with the participation of the TNC of Libya as well as his acceptance of not being part of the negotiation process,” it stated.

The statement said the proposals fall within the framework of the UN Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973 of 2011.

The objective of the negotiation was to bring the current crisis to an end as well as ensure the effective protection of civilians and provision of humanitarian support.

It would also usher in a political process that would meet the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people to democracy, rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights, the statement said.